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A new study led by Professor Colin Angus of the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) has revealed the significant potential of the Drink Less app in reducing alcohol-related harm and saving the NHS millions of pounds.

The research, published in Value in Health journal, used the Sheffield Alcohol Policy Model to investigate the long-term impact of using different approaches to promote the Drink Less app, a tool developed at University College London (UCL) to help people reduce their alcohol consumption.

Key findings

• Significant harm reduction: The study estimated that widespread promotion of the app could prevent 4,600 alcohol-related deaths and 188,400 hospital admissions over the next 20 years.
• Cost savings: These reductions in harm would translate to an estimated £590 million in savings for the NHS.
• Health equity: The study highlighted that the greatest health benefits would likely be observed in the most deprived communities, helping to address existing health inequalities.
• GP-led promotion: Encouraging GPs to recommend the app to patients during consultations was found to be the most effective strategy, with the potential to save the NHS £500 million.
• Mass media campaign: A national mass media campaign was also projected to have a substantial impact, with an estimated £417 million in NHS savings.

Addressing an urgent need

Professor Colin Angus, lead author of the study and a member of SARG at the University of Sheffield, emphasised the urgency of addressing rising alcohol-related harm.

"Many people in the UK recognise that they drink too much and want to cut down. Rates of heavier drinking increased sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we have seen alcohol-specific deaths increase by 42 per cent since 2019, with 23 people dying in England every day as a direct result of their drinking.

"This research suggests digital interventions like the Drink Less app have the potential to play a crucial role in addressing these alarming increases in harms by helping people reduce their alcohol intake, improve their health, while also saving the NHS money."

A multifaceted approach

Dr Claire Garnett is a Research Fellow at the University of Bristol and chief investigator on a large-scale trial of the Drink Less app which demonstrated its effectiveness in helping people to reduce their drinking. She stressed the importance of a multifaceted approach to tackling alcohol harm:

"By making tools like Drink Less readily available and integrating them into existing healthcare systems, we can not only improve people's individual health outcomes but also contribute to a more equitable and healthier society.

"However, we must be mindful that digital health apps don't suit everybody and are one valuable tool in the box. We need a national strategy to address alcohol harm that also includes other effective interventions and policies, such as making alcohol less cheap and less available, less heavily marketed, and improving access to alcohol treatment and support."

The Drink Less app

The Drink Less app has been proven to be an effective tool in helping people reduce their alcohol consumption. It has garnered support from figures such as TV and radio presenter Adrian Chiles, who has publicly shared his experience of using the app to cut back on his alcohol intake.

Next steps

The research provides compelling evidence for the potential of digital interventions like the Drink Less app in combating alcohol-related harm. The findings underscore the importance of integrating such tools into healthcare systems and developing comprehensive strategies to address alcohol consumption at a population level.

Further information

• Drink Less on the App Store
• Modeling the Potential Health, Health Economic, and Health Inequality Impact of a Large-Scale Rollout of the Drink Less App in England
• Effectiveness of a smartphone app (Drink Less) versus usual digital care for reducing alcohol consumption among increasing-and-higher-risk adult drinkers in the UK: a two-arm, parallel-group, double-blind, randomised controlled trial
• Sheffield Alcohol Policy Model